Protective clothing



NOV. 26, 1946. Q KRUPP v 2,411,830-

' PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Filed Dec. 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Shet 1 JZ'YL/EEEL [5550/] PM? Nov. 26, 1946. c. P. KRUPP 2,411,830

fROTECTIVE CLOTHING I Filed Dec. 13, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 2 MEL C EEUZ/ fif- EZJPP Patented Nov. 26, 1946 PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Carroll Krupp, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New Xork, N. Y., a corporation oi New York Application December 1a, 1943, Serial No. 514,007

9 Claims. (Cl. 2-82) This, invention relates to protective clothing and especiallyto suits of water-tight construction substantially enclosing the wearers body, including flotation suits. 1

The invention is useful especially in the construction of water-tight suits such, for example, as may be used for fording streams or by mariners immersed in the ocean during an emergency. Also, the invention is applicable in many of its features to other forms of protective clothing such as sleeping bags, sports clothing, and other complete or partial body coverings.

Principal objects of the invention are to provide clothing effectively protecting the wearers body againstobjectionable exposure; to provide watertightness of the clothing; to provide convenience of donning and dofling the clothing; to provide for sealing an opening in the clothing; to provide for admitting a portion of the wearer's body into the clothing; and to provide simplicity of construction, convenience of manufacture, and convenience and effectivenss of operation.

' Other objects of the invention are to provide comfort to the wearer; to providefor sealing a neck opening in the clothing in a relatively comfortable manner to the wearer; andto provide for conveniently adjusting and maintaining the clothing positioned at the neck of the wearer in sealing relation therewith. I

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a flotation suit including a headpiece, and constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, parts being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a front view of the suit showing a neck opening and sealing arrangement in the open condition, parts being broken away,

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3-2 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 1 showing a modified construction of the suit, parts being broken away,

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line 6--6 of Fig.5,

Fig. 7 is a view from above, the suit showing the modified neck opening andsealing arrangement in the open condition. parts being broken away, and 1 Fig. 8 is a section taken along line li 8 oi 7, parts being broken away.

In the illustrative form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the flotation suit, having an opening for accommodating the neck of the wearer is 7 example, as fabric textile material having a substantially impervious coating or impregnation of resilient rubber or other rubber-like material, which flexible material possesses the desired chars acteristics of relatively light-weight, strength, and water-tightness. The suit preferably sub.- stantially encloses the wearers body and comprises a torso covering ID, arm coverings H and l2 and leg coverings, and may include aheadpiece Hi, all of such parts being united at adjacent margins as by sewing, or a suitable adhesive such, for example, as rubber cement, or both. The headpiece I3 may have a fullness at the nape of the wearers neck for facilitating head movement.- Gloves and boots may also be provided and similarly united with the arm and leg coverings for protecting the hands and the feet of the wearer.

The torso covering ill in the upper reaches of its continuously extending front portion may have id rab ful ess at 1 e a s o h for defining the relatively large extent of the neck opening and sealing arrangement which facilitates admitting the wearers body therethrough and conveniently donning and dofllng the suit. Such fullness of the torso covering also facili tates including auxiliary flotation apparatus and other articles within the Suit which the wearer may desire to pro-tect'against the water.

The neck opening and sealing arrangement includes, as shown especially in Fi 1 to 4 a substantially solid or non-inflatable sealing pad or strip element l5 of relatively soft, compressible and yieidable material such, for example, as resilient, sponge rubber or other rubber-l1kematerial having cushioning characteristics by virtue of its resiliency,'the p'ad element I5 having desirably a substantially impervious, relatively smooth coating or covering of suitable resilient rubber-like material for preventing absorption of water and such element isconstructed so thatit presents a uniform,"no n -deviou's inner sealing face to the wearers neck. The pad element 15 including tapered ends l6 and I! may be molded and vulcanized in the form of a split annular ring of suflicient extent to completely embrace the neck, and the tapered ends it and I! are in overlapping relationship with one another forthe closed condition of such neck opening arrangement.

made of flexible material such, for

terial extending continuously about the opening relatively thick pad element as compared to the flexible margin l8 accommodates variations in tautness of the draw-string 2! without substantial discomfort to the wearer.

In dofiing the suit the tautness of the drawstring is released by operation of the clamping member 22 permitting the tube 29 to be extended from its puckered condition until the neck opening arrangement is in the open condition, as shown especially in Fig. 2. The headpiece and pad element are removed from the head and neck,

.respectively, and the wearers body withdrawn A flexible draw-string 2'! of braided linen cord,

for example, is disposed within the flattened tube 20, as shown especially in Figs. 3 and 4. The end portions of the draw-string 2| extend through an aperture in the tube at the front of the torso covering and desirably extend through a suitable quick-release clamping member 22 whereby the tube 26 may be puckered substantially along its extent by tautening the draw-string to obtain the closed condition of the neck opening arrangement and to deform and retain the pad element at and about the wearers neck in a cushioning mannor for sealing relation therewith. Other means such, for example, as a strap and fastener may be used to retain the pad element in its closed condition at the neck and to coact substantially in the manner of the draw-string 2i within the tube 20 in applying continuity of external compressive force to the pad element along the extent of the latter.

For further protecting the wearer the headpiece l3 may be attached along its lower margin 23 to the torso covering and preferably at the outside of the neck opening arrangement, which construction promotes additional sealing at the opening while permitting such neck opening arrangement to be in its closed condition whether or not the headpiece be mounted on the wearers head. The margin of the opening in the headpiece is adapted to conform to the contour of the face and neck and to fit snugly thereagainst when the headpiece is mounted on the head.

In donning the flotation suit and having the neck opening arrangement in the open condition, the wearers body is inserted feet first through the neck opening. When the legs, arms and torso are positioned within the suit, the sealing pad element [5 is arranged about the neck such that the tapered ends [6 and I7 are in overlapping relation, and next the headpiece may be mounted on the head. To obtain the closed condition of the neck opening arrangement, the draw-string 2! is tautened by pulling its end portions through the clamping member 22 thereby puckering the tube 20 and positioning the latter against the pad element I5 in sealing relation therewith. The draw-string is tautened to an extent such thatit is embedded partially in the ,yieldable material of the pad element and such that the pad element I5 is maintained in a cushioning manneratthe wearers neck adjacent the jaw without undue pressureagainst the neck, the material of the pad element presenting a uniform, non-devious sealing face to the neck. By virtue of; the yieldability and resiliency of the sponge rubber material, the pad element fits snugly about and conforms uniformly throughout its extentto the concushioning and sealing action is obtained. The

through the neck opening. For the modified construction of the suit shown in Figs. 5 to S, inclusive, the neck opening and sealing arrangement includes a substantially solid or non-inflatable sealing pad element 25 disposed at the back of the opening and a second substantially solid or non-inflatable sealing pad element 25 at the front thereof, the respective pad elements being of suitable resilient, sponge rubber-like material having cushioning characteristics and having a suitable impervious coating or covering.

The sealing pad element 25 including tapered ends 21 and 23 partially embraces the wearers neck and may be mounted within a back portion 29 of a folded strip or flattened tube 39 of suitable flexible, substantially water-tight, fabric textile is constructed and arranged to embrace the re mainder of the neck. The tapered ends 33 and 34 cooperate with the adjacent tapered ends 21 and 28 by an overlapping relation therewith to complete the sealing encirclement of the neck by the pad elements 25 and 26, as shown especially in Figs. 5' and 6.

The pad element 26 may include flared or curved projecting portions 35 and 36 along the tapered ends 33 and 34 for conforming to the contour of the lower jaw of the wearer to promote additional sealing by the neck opening arrangement. For facilitating positioning the. pad element 25 against the wearers neck for coacting with the other pad element 25, the pad element 26 may be provided with a relatively narrow, arcuate band portion 3'! of suitable resilient rubberlike material interconnecting the tapered ends 33 and 34 whereby such pad element becomes substantially annular in form, as shown especially in Fig. 7, and defines an opening 38 for receiving. the neck.

The draw-string 2i is disposed within the flattened tube 30 and is arranged to press against the back of the pad element 25. End portions of the draw-string extend through an aperture at the front portion 32 of the tube and may extend through the clamping member 22 to facilitate tautening the drawstring for positioning the pad elements 25 and 25 in coacting sealing relation at the neck.

In donning the modified suit and having the neck opening arrangement in the open condition, the wearers body is inserted feet first through the opening and positioned within the suit. The head is inserted through the opening 38 in the annular pad element 26, and such element inin the following claims.

. cilitating maintaining the pad element 2% in posi-v tion forcoacting withthe other pad element 25. The draw-string 2| isjtautened thereby puckering the flatteriedtube 30 into a multiplicity of closely contacting fiatfolds along its extent intermediate the tapered ends Zland 23 of the pad element 25 and positioning such tube against the front'pad element 26 in sealing relation therewith. Tautening the draw-string also positions the tapered ends 21 and 28, 33 and 34 of the pad elements 25 and 26 in overlapping sealing relation and maintains such elements in a cushioning manner about the neck without objectionable pressure against the neck whereby a circumferentially uniform, non-devious sealing face is presented to the neck for the closed condition of the arrangement. The sealing face of the pad elements conforms to the contour of the neck by virtue of the yieldability and resiliency of the rubber material. If desired, the headpiece l3 may be mounted on the wearers head for further protection.

The modified suit may be doifed conveniently by removing the headpiece from the head and releasing the tautness of the draw-string such that the neck opening arrangement may be returned to the open condition. The pad element Ziiis slipped over the head and the wearers body withdrawn through the opening from the suit.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined I claim: I 1. Protective clothing having an opening for accommodating the wearer, said clothing at the opening comprising a margin of flexible material and a sealing pad element partially attached to said margin leaving a portion of said pad element unattached to said margin so as to be freely adjustable with respect thereto, said pad element comprising a strip of relatively yieldable material presenting an inner sealing face of the yieldable material to the wearer.

2. Protective clothing having an opening for accommodating the neck of the wearer, said clothing at the opening comprising a margin of flexible material and a sealing pad element partially attached at the inside of said margin leaving a portion of said pad element unattached to said margin so as to be freely adjustable with respect thereto, said pad element comprising resilient material relatively thick as compared to the flexible material of said margin, said resilient material presenting a uniform non-devious sealing face of the resilient material to said neck.

3. Protective clothing having an opening for accommodating the neck of the wearer, said clothing at the opening comprising a margin of flexible material, and a sealing pad element of relatively yieldable material at said margin embracing said neck and positionable adjacent the lower jaw of the wearer, said pad element including opposite upwardly flared portions being constructed and arranged to conform to the contour of said jaw, said yieldable material presenting an inner sealing face of the yieldable material to said neck.

4. Protective clothing having an opening for accommodating the neck of the wearer, said clothing at the opening comprising a margin of flexible fabric material, a sealing pad element including tapered ends of relatively resilient spon'g r'ubber like materialand partially at tached atsaid margin at the region of the back of said neck for embracing the latter leaving for-' ward portions including said tapered ends of said pad element unattached to said margin so as'to be freely adjustable with respect thereto, said tapered ends being positionable in overlapping sealing relationwith one another, said rubher-like material presenting an inner sealing face ofthe rubber-like material to said neck, and

means for positioning said pad element at said neck in sealing relation therewith.

5. Protective clothing having an opening for accommodating the neck of the wearer, said clothin at the opening comprising a margin of flexible fabric material including a front portion and eluding tapered endsand attached at the inside of said back portion for partially embracing said neck, a second sealing pad element including tapered ends and partially attached at the inside of said front portion with the latter said tapered ends extending rearwardly unattached to said margin so as to be freely adjustable with respect thereto for embracing the remainder of the neck, said tapered ends of the first said pad element being positionable in overlapping sealing relation with said tapered ends of said second pad element, the pad elements, comprising relatively resilient sponge rubber-like material presenting an inner sealin face of the sponge rubber-like material to the neck, and means for positioning said pad elements at the neck of the wearer in sealing relation therewith.

6. Protective clothing having an openin for accommodating the neck of the wearer, said clothing at the opening comprising a margin of flexible fabric material including a front portion and a back portion, sealing pad elements attached at the inside of said front portion and said back portion, a margin of a pad element being unattached to said margin of said opening so as to be freely adjustable with respect thereto and tapering to provide a sealing surface cooperable with the other pad element for sealin relation therewith, said pad elements comprising relatively soft compressible material presenting an inner sealing face of said compressible material to the neck, and means for positioning said pad elements at the neck of the wearer in sealing relation therewith.

7. Protective clothing having an opening for accommodating the neck of the wearer, said clothing at the opening comprising a marginof flexible material including material positionable about the neck of the wearer, and a sealing pad element at the inside of said margin unattached to said margin throughout the major part of the extent of said pad element so as to be adjustable with respect to said margin and conformable to said neck, said pad element comprising resilient material relaing face of the resilient material to the neck of the wearer,

8. Protective clothing having an opening for accommodating the neck of the wearer, said clothing at the opening comprising a margin of' flexible material including a front portion of said material havingsubstantial fullness and contractible into a multiplicity of closely contacting folds positionable about the neck ofthe wearer,

a back portion, a sealing pad element ina front portion of said devious sealing face of the sponge rubber-like material to the neck of the wearer.

9 Protective clothing as defined in claim 8 in which said sealing face of the pad element is relatively fiat transversely of said pad element and is of transverse width not less than the thickness of said pad element providing a. substantial sealing area at the neck of the wearer.

CARROLL P. KRUPP. 

